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VISIONThe Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) Translational Research Network (RTRN) leads health science innovation and transforms clinical and translational research that focuses on reducing ethnic and geographic disparities in health.
MISSIONRTRN’s mission is to foster and support inter-institutional collaborations to maximally leverage resources and expertise across each member RCMI institution, enhancing the research capacity and accelerating the understanding, prevention, and treatment of diseases, with a focus on those diseases that disproportionately affect underserved communities.
“Until we eliminate health disparities, the U.S. will never achieve its fundamental health goal: Health equality for all.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
RTRN Because no single individual or institution has all the knowledge, skills
and resources needed to address the pressing health issues facing
our nation, the Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI)
Translational Research Network (RTRN), leverages the scientific
expertise, technologies and innovations of its RCMI minority-serving
research institutions to accelerate the delivery of solutions to
address critical health problems, particularly health disparities.
Since its establishment in 2007, RTRN has served to unite
the member RCMI minority-serving research universities,
medical schools and colleges of pharmacy and veterinary
medicine, under a common goal of conducting
research to develop collaborative solutions to reduce
or eliminate health disparities in communities
disproportionately impacted by high disease
burden and poor access to health care.
The consortium, funded through the National
Institute on Minority Health and Health
Disparities (NIMHD), of the National
Institutes of Health, seeks to accelerate
the quality and pace of transformative
research by unifying basic, clinical
and behavioral scientists with
community partners in an effort to
tackle major health concerns that are
prominent throughout communities across
the country.
With the support of RTRN, our research teams can focus on the progression from laboratory discoveries to medical practice to improved health.
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RTRN Leadership & Governance
The RTRN Steering Committee and the External
Advisory Committee (EAC) ensure the quality and
efficiency of research across the RCMI translational
research spectrum.
The RTRN EAC is comprised of leaders in academia
and industry who support excellence in biomedical
research, community-based participatory research
and educational development.
Comprising accomplished investigators,
experienced community and health professionals
and government officials, the RTRN Steering
Committee represents the governing body for
leadership and oversight of RTRN operations.
Working closely with RTRN’s three Coordinating
Centers, Administrative Coordinating Center
(ACC), Research Coordinating Center (RCC) and
Data Coordinating Center (DCC), the Steering
Committee provides overall governance to insure
the resources of the network are synergized
across the RCMI institutions and to ensure the
achievement of the following specific aims:
• Enhancing and streamlining overall RTRN
management and operations
• Engaging RCMI investigators and other
stakeholders, including the lay community, to
strengthen capacity for multi-site clinical and
translational research
• Enhancing the infrastructure for project
management, performance monitoring and
data analysis
• Establishing multiple modes of communication
to promote more effective research
collaborations
RTRN Coordinating Centers The RCC serves as the central coordination and
communication hub to facilitate cross-institutional
research projects. The RCC facilitates the
movement of basic and clinical science questions
and community ideas from the conceptual
phase through subsequent phases of funding,
implementation, analysis and publishing.
The Network is supported by the DCC, a highly
secure and technological infrastructure which
maintains a research environment comprised of
industry-leading tools and applications seamlessly
integrated to support collaborations and
information and data sharing.
With an experienced team of principal
investigators, clinicians, data managers,
statisticians and technical specialists, RTRN
provides effective study development, high-quality
data management, training and coordination,
statistical analysis and reporting, study logistics
support and resource identification that enables
researchers to expedite health discovery.
For more than three decades, behavioral and
basic scientists, clinicians, and translational
researchers of the RCMI program have led national
and international research initiatives that have
improved the understanding of health disparities
and resulted in interventions that address health
concerns in underserved and underrepresented
communities.
The RCMI grantee institutions have leveraged the
financial investments from federal grants, private
sources as well as institutional endowments to
deliver high-quality professional and research
training programs, outfited laboratories
and facilities with state-of-the-art scientific
instrumentation and have provided ethical and
sensitive education and outreach to the diverse
populations and communities.
Research DiscoveryMany distinguished RCMI scholars lead cutting
edge scientific discoveries, and participate in
productive collaborations that have resulted in
thousands of articles and papers published in
scientific journals and magazines. In addition,
numerous innovative patents and licenses have
been acquired based on their research data.
Training & Professional DevelopmentMore than 13,000 students have earned Ph.D.’s,
M.D.’s, Pharm.D’s and D.V.M’s (Doctor of Veterinary
Medicine) from RCMI awardee-institutions.
These graduates have been trained for careers
in medicine and health fields and equipped with
the skills, knowledge and sensitivity to serve
communities that are typically dubious of medical
research and diagnoses.
Community OutreachThe commitment of the RCMI program to ensure
the community’s involvement in the research
activities and decisions that impact their lives, has
resulted in various outreach programs including
mobile clinics, health fairs and workshops,
forums and town meetings and the utilization
of broadcast and social media for improved
dissemination of health information.
30 years addressing the health needs of underserved communities
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Xavier University of Louisiana Dr. Shilong Zheng and Dr. Guangdi Wang’s
research led to the discovery of three
4-Hydroxytamoxifen prodrugs that demonstrate
desired efficacy against hormone dependent
breast cancer. A patent is pending.
OUR RESEARCHERS
More than 1,300 scientists actively seeking solutions to health disparitiesRTRN is comprised of some of the most distinguished and accomplished health and medical
researchers in the country who are committed to reducing health disparities.
Our scientists, in collaboration with community health representatives and industry partners, have
pinpointed critical diseases for which they are identifying innovative research approaches; some of their
findings have helped to transform healthcare for the better. Research teams at the RCMI institutions are
actively conducting research in high impact disparity areas such as Cancer, HIV/AIDS, Cardiovascular
Disease, Neurological Disorders and Mental Health, Environmental Health and Toxicology, and drug
therapies.
The multi-disciplinary scientific, clinical and technical expertise of the RCMI programs, which make up
RTRN, has been organized into translational research clusters, each of which represents a strategic
approach to reduce health disparities. Research teams made up of expertise from one or more clusters
are working together to better understand the origins and determinants of health disparities, in order to
develop culturally appropriate solutions.
The RTRN Small Grants Program is comprised of three distinct funding mechanisms: Pilot Project
Program, Collaboration Enhancement Award Program and CoreBucks Program. These programs
provide seed funding to foster and facilitate collaboration between the research teams for various types
of short-term research projects, promote the use of RCMI core facilities, improve competitiveness for
R-series grant applicants and promote mentoring of junior investigators.
Through RTRN, our researchers identify and initiate collaborations with both RCMI and non-RCMI
scientists who complement their current research activities, and offer insight as well as data to help
generate new research ideas.
Jackson State UniversityDr. Paresh C. Ray has developed and successfully
tested a new method for identifying Salmonella,
which can identify the food poisoning bacteria
in only 5 minutes. Traditional tests take up to 72
hours. A patent is pending.
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine & Science and Morehouse School of Medicine
RTRN’s first multi-site clinical trial united
internationally recognized principal investigators,
Dr. Keith C. Norris and Dr. Gary H. Gibbons, and
their research teams to test the effects of vitamin
D3 on cardiovascular risk factors. Through
innovative recruitment strategies, a 100%
recruitment rate was achieved. This proof-of-
concept project enabled the Network to establish
systematic approaches for conducting effective
and efficient FDA-compliant clinical trials and
provided physiological insights into the design for
a larger multi-site clinical trial.
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Texas Southern University and University of Texas at El Paso
Dr. Huan Xie, TSU, in collaboration with Dr. Marc
Cox, UTEP, has developed a water-soluble and
stable liquid dosage formulation of MJC13 (a
patented anti-cancer compound discovered
by Dr. Cox) that is suitable for intravenous
administration. The studies are of great
importance for future preclinical and clinical
studies on MJC13. The investigators are in the
process of applying for a patent for this new
formulation and detection method of MJC13.
In addition, Dr. Xie and her team are actively
seeking a novel multi-function nano-formulation
for MJC13. This innovative approach of combining
hermotherapy and chemotherapy will greatly
improve bioavailability and deliver efficiency
of MJC13 to tumor sites. It is one of the most
advanced methods for treating cancer.
“Through RTRN, I was able to identify and work with bioinformaticians to discern a gene that can better predict when prostate cancer will be harmful.
Our goal is to help people, taking diagnosis from bench to bedside.”
R. Renee Reams, Ph.D.Florida A&M University
University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus Dr. Loyda Melendez and Dr. Valerie Wojna used
“proteomics protein fingerprinting” to provide a
way to screen HIV patients for the first signs of
cognitive impairment.
The City College of New York Dr. Jerry Guyden developed a unique technology
and research in the study of Thymic Nurse Cells
(TNC), critical to understanding how our bodies
develop infection mechanisms as part of our
immune system.
University of Hawaii at Manoa Dr. Mariana Gerschenson is studying diabetes
through a novel approach of looking at fat. Her
work has resulted in utilizing blood cells which
mirrors what is occurring fat; and therefore
patients no longer have to endure invasive
procedures to examine this disease. 8
It is critical for research findings, that originate
in basic science laboratories be translated into
clinical trials and ultimately applied broadly in the
community. Understanding the specific health
problems of each community and being sensitive
to the needs of underserved populations that
have traditionally been suspicious of biomedical
research is paramount to the researchers and
clinicians of RTRN. Over the years, programs have
been developed and implemented specifically
to increase involvement from community health
advisors as well as study participants, improve
doctor patient relationships and enhance
understanding of how to maintain and live
successfully with their diverse health conditions.
RCMI scientists have focused on research that
addresses diseases that have disproportionately
impacted the African American, Hispanic,
Asian and Pacific Islander, and Native American
communities across the Nation.
RTRN has engaged community-based participatory
researchers (CBPR) who liaise between scientists
and communities to ensure the appropriateness
of methodologies at all phases of the research
process. Our CBPRs provide training for health
disparities researchers working closely with
minority communities to overcome barriers in
collaborative community-based participatory
research. Their community outreach activities
include health fairs and informational workshops,
forums and town meetings and the utilization of
broadcast and social media.
Tuskegee University Dr. Stephen Sodeke and his collaborators at the
Center for Bioethics in Research and Healthcare,
work to ensure that Network research is sensitive
to the historical, cultural and ethical needs of
the study populations involved. The Center for
Bioethics is the nation’s first center devoted
to engaging the sciences, humanities, law and
religious faiths in the exploration of the core
moral issues which underlie research and medical
treatment of African Americans and underserved
populations.
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science Dr. Nell Forge co-hosts the weekly Good News
Radio Show with Mr. Charles McWells, a community
faculty member. Together, they and their guests
address key health issues that disproportionately
affect Los Angeles County minority communities.
Morehouse School of Medicine Investigators, doctors, and community advisors
are responsible for launching Georgia’s first mobile
high-tech research unit to service local and rural
communities, improving trials participation.
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OUR COMMUNITIES
Providing health care solutions and health information for diverse populations across America
Clark Atlanta University Under the direction of Dr. Kimberly Davis,
CAU has implemented a comprehensive media
initiative that helps to educate individuals in
the metropolitan Atlanta area about cancer,
particularly prostate cancer. Monthly radio
shows and television programs enable cancer
patients and careproviders to speak directly
with physicians and other disease experts. In
partnership with CAU TV, Dr. Davis’ team hosts
annual town hall meetings that cover diverse
topics such as environmental pollutants, health
disparities and the national health care reform
initiative.
Universidad Central del Caribe Dr. Pedro Ferchim and his collaborative
partnership with researchers at the University of
Louisiana-Monroe obtained a patent on tobacco
cembranoids for possible use to control tobacco
addiction and help with smoking cessation and
other neurodegenerative diseases.
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“In this day and age when collaborations are so important, we need to use current technologies to lessen the effects of geographic isolation. We are applying informatics techniques to support the research and telecommunications to transmit information from place to place, from one researcher to another.”
José G. Conde, M.D., M.P.H.University of Puerto RicoMedical Sciences Campus
University of Hawaii at Manoa, Morehouse School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus and Jackson State UniversityThe University of Hawaii, at Manoa, Morehouse School
of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences
Campus and the RTRN Data Coordinating Center at Jackson
State University were among the nine institutions which
founded the national consortium - led by Harvard University,
named the eagle-i Network, to give greater visibility to
scientific resources amassed across the country. The eagle-i
Consortium is supported by Grant Number #U24 RR 029825
from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Since its inception, the Network has collaborated to inventory
more than 54,000 scientific resources. The four founding
RCMI institutions have been instrumental in the process
of identifying and inventorying the instruments, biological
specimens, databases, human studies, organisms,
reagents, software, and core laboratories across
the remaining 14 RCMI institutions.
OUR RESOURCES
Transforming traditional silo-science-based research through the use of sophisticated technologiesAcross RTRN, the RCMI grantee institutions
have leveraged the investments from federal
grants, private foundations and their institutional
endowments to modernize and maintain their
laboratories with high-end specialized equipment
and instrumentation and staffed the facilities
with highly-qualified, well-trained technicians
and personnel. RTRN has facilitated the sharing
of core laboratories within and beyond the RCMI
community. Our RCMI investigators are not only
sharing research ideas but are engaging in training
to utilize advanced technologies to accelerate
the pace of research discoveries. Empowered by
sophisticated communications systems and robust
information technology infrastructure, RTRN has
transformed traditional single-PI, silo-science-
based research to multi-institutional, multi-PI,
team-science-based collaborations. RTRN provides
a safe and secure environment for efficient sharing
of data and documents to support Network-wide
clinical trials and translational research projects.
RTRN’s investment in research networking and
resource technologies supports the matching
of expertise and resources across the national
network. Our networking of expertise, basic,
clinical, behavioral, informatics and statistical
research areas, are facilitated by the online Profiles
Research Networking Software, which allows RCMI
researchers to identify academic and community
research partners, mentors and other scientific
and technical expertise needed to form research
teams. Access to an inventory of more than 20,000
RCMI scientific resources, including state-of-the-
art instrumentation, reagents, cell lines, and other
resource types, are made available online through
the eagle-i RTRN resource discovery networking
tool (RDNT).
Florida A&M University The RCMI program at FAMU directs, staffs and
operates all inpatient pharmaceutical services
for the Apalachee Center, Inc., the largest private
mental health facility in Big Bend (Tallahassee,
Florida and surrounding areas).
Meharry Medical College Dental students and faculty participate in critical
training exercises in a real-life environment without
putting patients in danger thanks to the new Delta
Dental Simulation Lab. The Meharry lab is the only
lab of its kind in Middle Tennessee and is a critical
component of Meharry’s dental education program.
Jackson State University/RTRN Data Coordinating Center JSU is the home of the Network’s Data
Coordinating Center which provides RTRN
investigators access to advanced technologies
needed to identify and secure research expertise,
collaborators and scientific resources. The
DCC provides statistical and data management
support as well as tools and technologies to
enhance clinical trials management and research
communications.
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Ponce School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Meharry Medical College, Morehouse School of Medicine and Howard University
These four RCMI institutions were among the
top ten medical schools in the Nation, based on
its social mission. This selection, the result of a
study done by George Washington University in
2010, is partly based on the number of graduates
from the schools practicing primary care and
the location and type of patients they serve,
which are mostly the minority and disadvantaged
members of the population in areas with
a federally designated shortage of health
professionals.
“Our goal is to increase the presence of highly-qualified minorities in medical research and ensure they are capable of implementing and leading national research initiatives.”
Jerry Guyden, Ph.D.Director, RCMI ProgramProfessor, Molecular Immunology City College of New York
“He (Dr. Guyden) has established a model of excellence to ensure students and new faculty are prepared to succeed in health and medical research.”
Dr. Michael SammsAdjunct Professor City College of New York
OUR FUTURE
Preparing a highly-skilled scientific workforce to tackle complex health diseases The career development and professional
enhancement of graduates, post-docs and faculty
at the RCMIs ensure there are knowledgeable
and skilled scientists capable of addressing
complex health problems. Our RCMI institutions
have designed and deliver programs to improve
education, health care and delivery, workforce
preparation and civic engagement. Our programs
train future health leaders to actively seek answers
to health questions which are prominent in the
communities they serve. Since its inception, the
RCMI institutions have awarded more than 1,100
DVMs (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine), more than
1,300 Ph.D.s, nearly 2,000 Pharm.Ds, and over
10,000 M.D.s, and the numbers continue to grow.
Our researchers are committed to mentoring future
scientists and ensuring their excellence in medicine
and health-related professions. Our programs
produce scientists who are supportive and
considerate of the underserved communities that
may require more education and interaction to be
comfortable with medical diagnoses, interventions
and treatments.
In addition to the many educational activities
hosted by our individual RCMI programs, RTRN
maintains a virtual environment that enables
researchers to conduct and participate in
biomedical educational activities, trainings,
seminars and workshops from dispersed locations
around the country. Through the RTRN education
and training platform, researchers can access
presentations, training materials, and distinguished
speaker series.
University of Texas at San Antonio: In 2012, Dr. Andrew Tsin received the Presidential
Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and
Engineering Mentoring from President Barack
Obama.
Hunter College The Gene Center has highly respected
research leaders who have been recognized
and awarded at the highest levels including the
Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists
and Engineers and the Presidential Awards
for Excellence in Mathematics, Science and
Engineering Mentoring.
Florida A&M University The FAMU College of Pharmacy and
Pharmaceutical Sciences has graduated more than
60 percent of the Nation’s African-American Ph.D.
recipients. The current RCMI principal investigator,
Dr. Karam Soliman has been responsible for
mentoring and directing more than half of those
graduates.
Howard University Howard University dental students have
demonstrated that specific types of microRNA
might be a potential aid in treatment for cavity and
pharynx cancer.
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“Utilizing RTRN has been instrumental to the success of our multi-site research endeavors.”
Naureen Tareen, M.D.Charles Drew University of Medicine and ScienceLos Angeles, CA
OUR SUSTAINABILITY
Facilitating outcome-focused researchThe Research Centers in Minority Institutions
Translational Research Network, RTRN:
• Leverages scientific expertise
• Maintains processes and systems that increase
efficiencies for multi-site collaborations including IRB
harmonization and resources discovery
• Provides services to complement existing capabilities at
the RCMI grantee institutions including collaborator matching/
research networking, training on the use of collaborative technologies
and clinical applications, proposal generation assistance as well as
clinical trial management and performance monitoring
• Manages funding priorities
• Serves as a resource for community-based participatory research design,
implementation and education
• Links diverse patient populations with key researchers and projects, in
an effort to eliminate health disparities across the Nation
Bringing together complementing skills and knowledge into researchthought groups and providing an environment that supports teamscience across geographical locations with advanced technologies andresources enables RCMI scientists to positively impact the overall health of the most underserved communities in America.
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COLLABORATE WITH OUR
CommunitiesDo you represent a community or constituency
outside RCMI? Are you interested in finding out
about opportunities to work with RCMI researchers
who are actively working with diverse patient
populations? One of RTRN’s primary aims is to assist
RCMI researchers, community-based organizations
and industry representatives in developing effective
and mutually-satisfying collaborations leading to
community-based research.
Our Community Liaisons can assist with:
• Planning and conducting research with
biomedical, behavioral, and clinical investigators
• Implementing research that engages diverse
patient populations
• Establishing methods that are sensitive to the
needs of diverse patient populations
• Disseminating research findings and information
to underserved communities
• Employing socially and culturally accepted
outreach initiatives
• Integrating sound evaluation approaches and
tools
Connect with one of our Community Liaisons via
e-mail to projectmanager@rtrn.net.
COLLABORATE WITH
RTRN ResearchersEngagement in RTRN is simple. All scientists
currently involved in research, mentoring and/or
community outreach at an RCMI institution can
access the support and services available through
the Network.
The first step requires that any RCMI scientist
create a Scientific Profile which helps to showcase
their specific research interest and capabilities.
Our Profiles system enables scientists to quickly
search and identify potential experts who can aid
their research endeavors.
When completing their Scientific Profile,
researchers can select one or more Clusters for
which they can become involved. Participating in
the RTRN Translational Research Cluster offers our
RCMI scientists a forum to present new research
ideas, and to forge partnerships with other experts
in complementing disciplines that expedite
solutions to address health disparities.
RCMI researchers, working within one of the
research clusters or working directly with the
RTRN Research Coordinating Center, can begin
the process of identifying funding sources, forming
teams to prepare and submit proposals as well as
integrate Network services to implement newly
funded projects or expand the capabilities of
current team science initiatives.
Connect with one of our Community Liaisons via
e-mail to rccliaisons@rtrn.net.
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It’s our turn to impact our nation’s health and reduce health disparities.
For more information, visit www.rtrn.net
or Contact RTRN Project Manager at 323.249.5706.
This publication was supported by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health, through RTRN Grant Number U54MD008149. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
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